Doing Your CanadianFederal and Quebec Income Tax

This document discusses the various ways of doing your Canadian Income Tax.
There are over a dozen CRA certified tax software providers. Quebec Income
Taxes can be handled in a similar fashion. Pricing examples refer to the popular TurboTax products
in effect February 2012. (Note TurboTax was called QuickTax prior to 2011.)

Some Keywords to Know

CRA

Canadian Revenue Agency. These are the people who collect and
process your Federal tax return. Their web site is www.cra-arc.gc.ca

CRA electronic tax filing service that allows you to file
your personal income tax return directly to CRA using the Internet.
(There is a NetFile Quebec site that is similar in function to the
CRA's version. Quebec online filers will need to use both
sites as directed by the software packages.)

Download

Downloading software from the Internet means that your computer
is fetching the software from the Internet and copying it to your computer.
This allows you to subsequently run the software on your computer without being connected to the Internet.
Compare with the term "Online" described below.

Online

A computer is considered Online when it has an active connection to the Internet.
This online connection allows the computer that you are using to exchange information with
one running at a remote site such as Google.com. For example, an
online connection to the TurboTax site allows you to enter and
process your tax information without having to install any software
or make any changes to the computer you are using. You can even stop
the online connection and reconnect online to TurboTax at a later
time from another computer to continue your tax returns.

Web Browser

Just about every computer small or large comes with a Web Browser.
It is the application you use to connect online with Google, TurboTax, etc.
The application may be called IE, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.
The web browser's main job is to format text, pictures, and links to remote sites so that
they display nicely on your computer's screen and printer.

Your Basic Choices

Use the paper forms supplied by the government

Not a good option. So many ways to make errors. You will also need to send
all your receipts with your paper return via mail or hand it in at a
government tax centre. Even the government prefers you do not use this
technique. (It increases their workload, their warehouse storage
requirements as well as the need to correct arithmetic errors and clerical
errors you and they may make entering your information.)

Quebec tax filers will need to complete a Quebec return in
addition to the Federal one. The two returns are different enough to
cause even more errors in completing them.

Use a tax service to do your return

May be useful for complex returns of self-employed people but usually an
unnecessary expense for salaried employees. Harder to find someone to do it as tax deadlines
approach.

Use a tax program on your computer to enter, verify, and help you every step
of the way

The most versatile choice. It allows you to do up to 20 returns at a low
cost per return with fast consistent response times. Allows immediate
submission of return for faster refunds. Sample price is $19.99 (basic),
$39.99 (standard) for the first 8 tax returns with 60-day money-back
guarantee.

Use a web-based tax program to enter, verify, and help you every step of the
way

The cheapest way to do a single tax return.
Don't have easy access to an Internet connected computer at home?
Then use a web browser at a library or Internet cafe.
Sample price is $14.99 per completed tax return and
free to try.

Why Using a Computer is Better

The computer will help you enter your information, check it, and do
all the math.

If you need to also file a Quebec tax return, the tax programs will
handle this with ease.

You can submit the tax return directly from your computer to the
government's one. This process takes only seconds.
No need to
print anything, or send in any slips of paper. (The CRA calls this
submission process "NETFILE". Quebec tax filers can also
directly submit their Quebec tax return to "NetFile Quebec".)

Any tax refund processing will be processed sooner since the
government gets all the information they need in their format and they
know it has been checked over by a tax program they have certified.

If you owe taxes, you can pay them at any bank or by using online
banking using the same way you pay your utility bills. The payer name is
"CRA Payment on Filing". (The other name called "CRA
Instalments" is
for people who pay taxes in instalments throughout the year as directed
by the government -- not the same thing.)

Do you think an audit of your computer submitted return is more likely since you have
not send in any slips, etc? Not true!
The same criteria for reviewing income tax returns are used for both paper and electronic versions.

Just remember:

Best to file your taxes on or before the deadline of April
30. Early submission will allow you to get back any refunds
earlier.

If you miss the deadline, you can still use NETFILE until
the end of September. After that
date you can still use the computer programs to print out your completed
forms but you will need to submit the paper forms plus all the tax slips and receipts
with it.

CRA will not allow you to submit more than 20 computerized tax
returns. This is meant to avoid people using these programs
commercially. Most tax programs require that you pay slightly more if you
do more than 8 returns.

Store-Bought Tax Programs

Many people buy their tax software from a store. The software comes in a box
that contains a CD-ROM disk and not much else. When you install the tax program
it will ask for an Internet connection to get the latest version of the
software from the Internet. This is because the CD was created before CRA
has certified the program. (The certification usually takes place by the end
of January.)

Directly Downloaded Tax Programs

It is usually faster and more convenient to download the tax software from the web than buying the software
from a store. This may not sound logical but it is true.
The boxed version you buy at the store is not the latest version of the software and often will not even let you file
a tax return.
You will need to install the software from the CD in the box and then
connect to the Internet to get the latest version.
So why not bypass that step and get the latest version directly from the Internet
and avoid the intermediate steps of working with a CD.
Information on popular downloadable and
Online tax programs from TurboTax.
They all include Absolutely Free Live Tax Advice 24/7.

Running Online using the Web

It is possible to prepare and submit you taxes
online using only a Web browser. No software to install on the
computer and will work on public computers available at a library or
even at the office.
If you have only one or two tax returns to do this may be the least expensive method.
You do not have to complete your taxes during one online web session.
Click here to try TurboTax Online filing for FREE with Free Live Tax Advice included!
Many students can prepare and file their taxes entirely for FREE using this method.
Click on the above link for more details.